I Am a Tattoo Artist at Brooklyn — That Is The Way Covid Changed My Business

This story a part of [our series](https://www.allure.com/story/covid-effect-beauty-industry] researching the continuing pandemic’s impact on people and companies in the beauty market. Bethany Wolosky, a decorative tattoo artist in Three Kings Tattoo at Brooklyn, NY, shares her view from among those hardest-hit cities on the planet.

By “The Brow Artist,” February 2018: “Your forehead is Bethany Wolosky’s picture, and if you offer her a chance, she will change your life using some of stunning, incredibly exact brows, any way you need them. (Plus, she is always available for annual touch-ups.)”

I work in a tattoo shop doing decorative tattooing — largely eyebrows and freckles. Before New York was placed on lockdown, the owner of the store made a decision to shut — basically he gave us before the end of the week. I did my 2 weeks worth of appointments and then ceased, and began to call and reschedule my clientele.

All spas and salons and tattoo stores are distinct, but in which I work, in Three Kings Tattoo at Brooklyn, we are all independent contractors. Basically we work and cover the store for use of this space. Since we are not workers, we weren’t able to [initially] use for unemployment, but I believe we could now beneath the new laws. [Ed note: Independent contractors who are not traditionally eligible for Unemployment Insurance may qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the federal CARES Act.] I have not — I have been living from my savings. My savings plan is simply being a very frugal workaholic Capricorn. [Laughs] I perform a lot and try to not devote a good deal. Additionally, I am maybe not Ubering to and from work, not ordering outside, I am cooking in the home, I am not going out drinking.

I am blessed that I have managed to save a bit of cash, but I understand that is not true for everybody. I am also lucky I have a great deal of appointments. I have had to reschedule over 50 to 60 appointments, that was stressful: Attempting to independently contact each of them, not knowing if we are in a position to start. All my customers are super-understanding. Typically, I reserve six to eight months out. I am slowly moving all my March and April appointments into the end of May and June, hoping we will be available by then.

It has been so astonishing just how a lot of my present customers have been prepared and prepared to undergo with their appointments [later]. It has given me assurance that I will not be overly financially influenced when that is finished. As simple as this scenario is, they are excited about getting back into the actual world, to doing things which make them feel great about themselves. I believed it’d be much more challenging to reschedule and get folks reserved, but it feels like folks are really pleased to keep on supporting me.

We do not understand what this will do to the market. Individuals may not have cash to acquire the beauty services that they obtained a month ago, two weeks ago. In the conclusion of the afternoon, cosmetic tattooing, tattooing generally, is a luxury ceremony whenever people have the additional cash to get it done. If you have lost your job or blown throughout your savings, it might not be on very top of your priority list. It is always a concern which I may not be reserving up to I had been before.

That said, my buddies can’t wait to receive all our beauty solutions. I can not wait ’til I receive my lashes completed. My friends that are hairstylists are like, “This stinks, but we will be so busy once the lockdown lifts.” In the meantime, I’ve been purchasing tutorials from other cosmetic tattoo artists to see how other people do the same job as me, looking for a trick or a tip that makes my life easier. It’s all useful information. Everybody does their job slightly differently. No better time to learn than sitting at home.

As told to senior beauty writer Brennan Kilbane. To learn more about Bethany Wolosky or to see her work, you can visit the Three Kings Tattoo website or follow her at @highheelslowlife on Instagram.

Read more from this series:

• [The Effect of COVID-19 on the Beauty Industry](https://wwwallure.com/story/covid-effect-beauty-industry]
• [What It’s Like to Be a Korean Spa Owner During the Pandemic](https://www.allure.com/story/korean-day-spa-owner-on-reopening-after-coronavirus]
• I Own My Own Salon, and I Just Had to File for Unemployment

Now, take a moment and watch this woman’s joy as she shaves her head for exactly the first time:

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